Body Panel and Hinge Corrosion - Common Problem or Online Amplification?

[Badunit]

I keep reading and seeing pictures about bubbling paint on and around hinges and at edges of body panels. It is just hard to tell whether something is a common problem or if it is being amplified by the forums. Or have these problems been fixed recently (2022 or 2023 model year). Factually there have been several TSBs about corrosion and there is/was a class action suit and Jeep is not the only manufacturer with corrosion problems but how bad is it really?

Is this a common problem on JT's and JL's or is it getting overblown?

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[56cbr600rr]

Not sure. Noticed it today on my buddies 2015 JKU though.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I keep reading and seeing pictures about bubbling paint on and around hinges and at edges of body panels. It is just hard to tell whether something is a common problem or if it is being amplified by the forums. Or have these problems been remedied in newer models years? Factually there have been several TSBs about corrosion and there is/was a class action suit and Jeep is not the only manufacturer with corrosion problems..

Is this a common problem on Jeeps or is it getting overblown?

It's amplified by the internet for sure. I'd not call it common but a known issue. I guess "common or not" is a subjective thing.
It's also a thing for GM and Ford - especially on the fronts of the hoods and certain other areas.
I've never had it on any of ours and I've not seen it personally. I only know the person in our area who has the bubbling paint.
I have yet to actually see it on a Jeep otherwise. My brother has owned a number of Jeeps - Wranglers and others, hasn't talked of it being a problem.

 

[jeepstertim]

The JL and JT are still new, the mixing of aluminium and steel are never happy bedfellows, show me a Landrover Defender or old Series that doesn't have it somewhere.

10 years' time, we'll all have bubbles. That said, none yet!

 

[ShadowsPapa]

The JL and JT are still new, the mixing of aluminium and steel are never happy bedfellows, show me a Landrover Defender or old Series that doesn't have it somewhere.

10 years' time, we'll all have bubbles. That said, none yet!

The problem is - not all of the areas are a mix of aluminum and steel. It's happening in other areas as well.
Some of the structure is magnesium. The tailgate is for sure.
Why are the hinges bubbling? That's not an intersection point - it's bubbling on the hinge instead of where the two come together.
Further complicating things is the fact that mild steel and aluminum are actually compatible. There's usually no problem between the two.

These are actually in the same grouping - and thus won't be a problem when placed together -

Here, 1 means no problem, 2 means only marginally impacted -

Frankly, I think there's something else going on that these companies haven't figured out yet and I don't believe it's all "galvanic" activity by "dissimilar metals". The metals involved are just too close on the charts.

 

[JTmac]

Do not have any statistics so this is my own anecdotal experience. 2020 gladiator purchased used with 15k miles in May of ‘21. September of ‘21 noticed bubbling paint on the drivers side edge of hood. When I brought it in the service writer said “huh, usually we see this around the hinges”. I had no hinge issues at that time. Hood was repainted under warranty.

Fast forward to May ‘23. I just recently noticed bubbling paint on 3 hinges. The bubbles appear to be starting where the steel pin comes out of the bottom of the upper hinge (part attached to the door). Read on here and JL forum a theory that there is moisture getting into that joint of the steel pin piece and hinge body. The joint is covered by paint on the outside, but the back side is exposed. Based on where I see my bubbles starting, that seems possible. It seems there are failures happening in different spots for different reasons. Here is a link:
https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/fo...rrosion-mitigation.110847/page-2#post-2352236

Planning to get mine in to be evaluated. I am around 73k mikes now. My understanding is currently they are warranty for 5 years unlimited miles. Very surprised when I read that so will see if it holds true. ?These are very expensive vehicles and you would think it’s reasonable to expect them not to have paint falling off after just a few years.

I cannot comment on other manufacturers. I currently have 3 Hondas and a Toyota as other cars in the household. All about 10 years old which means they probably had less mixing of metals to get weight down for better MPG. No bubbling paint on them though one has started to shed some clear coat lately. That one is 11 years old and 200k and cost less than half of what a Gladiator does.

So to answer your original question, yes, the bubbling paint thing is real. How many? No idea.

 

[Gossamer]

Do not have any statistics so this is my own anecdotal experience. 2020 gladiator purchased used with 15k miles in May of ‘21. September of ‘21 noticed bubbling paint on the drivers side edge of hood. When I brought it in the service writer said “huh, usually we see this around the hinges”. I had no hinge issues at that time. Hood was repainted under warranty.

Fast forward to May ‘23. I just recently noticed bubbling paint on 3 hinges. The bubbles appear to be starting where the steel pin comes out of the bottom of the upper hinge (part attached to the door). Read on here and JL forum a theory that there is moisture getting into that joint of the steel pin piece and hinge body. The joint is covered by paint on the outside, but the back side is exposed. Based on where I see my bubbles starting, that seems possible. It seems there are failures happening in different spots for different reasons. Here is a link:
https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/fo...rrosion-mitigation.110847/page-2#post-2352236

Planning to get mine in to be evaluated. I am around 73k mikes now. My understanding is currently they are warranty for 5 years unlimited miles. Very surprised when I read that so will see if it holds true. ?These are very expensive vehicles and you would think it’s reasonable to expect them not to have paint falling off after just a few years.

I cannot comment on other manufacturers. I currently have 3 Hondas and a Toyota as other cars in the household. All about 10 years old which means they probably had less mixing of metals to get weight down for better MPG. No bubbling paint on them though one has started to shed some clear coat lately. That one is 11 years old and 200k and cost less than half of what a Gladiator does.

So to answer your original question, yes, the bubbling paint thing is real. How many? No idea.

I just noticed bubbling around the top hinge of my driver's door, and two minors on hood. I'll be curious what you hear from your dealer as I have a 2020 sport S with 57k on it. Garage kept, and very clean.

 

[jav_eee]

Of the 4 Jeeps I looked at when shopping for mine only 1 of them had it. Mostly on the lower edge of the doors.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

that seems possible. It seems there are failures happening in different spots for different reasons.

Yes, exactly. Everyone jumps on "galvanic reaction!" likely because it's parroting what was read from someone else who seemed to have a plausible explanation and that person had read it somewhere else.....

There are several different types of corrosion including galvanic corrosion, concentration-cell corrosion, stress corrosion, fretting corrosion, pitting, and oxidation and so on.

Here is one explanation I have on record that MAY explain some of the bubbling that happens not where metals are joined, but on the surface of something like a hinge - away from the other metal (likely aluminum - which isn't that reactive to steel so really isn't a problem)

Concentration-cell and pitting corrosion contrast with galvanic corrosion in that concentration-cell and pitting require only one metal in the presence of an electrolyte to set up an attack system. This type of corrosion begins with the creation of a differential in concentration of oxygen at the metal surface (an enclosed bubble of air). This causes a lack of fresh oxygen supply, and in combination with the electrolyte it produces a highly effective localized battery with resultant corrosion and metal attack.

That makes sense for a bubble in the middle of a hinge.

Fretting could take place where a hinge and panel like hood or door come together - the constant vibration and microscopic rubbing. Can be resolved with higher clamping forces, etc. - prevent any such motion, no matter how small.

Frankly, it's hard to imagine that some materials engineer, metallurgist, whatever, hasn't resolved any of the above since this has been going on for decades - and seems to be getting worse in some ways, in some cases.
Frankly, I'm very concerned about Jeep deciding to toss a zinc shim between hinge and door panel - meh, not really seeing that as anything but a very short term solution, besides actually "possibly" adding to the chance of fretting corrosion. They are gonna have to clamp that biXXX really tight as now they've got another layer of something that is a semi-lubricant. Zinc is soft. Heck, I cut pure zinc bars on a band saw and table saw (doesn't help the blades but it cuts pretty easily)

 

[JTmac]

I just noticed bubbling around the top hinge of my driver's door, and two minors on hood. I'll be curious what you hear from your dealer as I have a 2020 sport S with 57k on it. Garage kept, and very clean.

Just brought mine in today. They said it need to be evaluated by the body shop. Then they submit the estimate to FCA. Was told this type of issue is covered 5 years, unlimited milage. My 2020 first went into service in October 2019. I have until October 2024 to get it dealt with. Was advised not to wait until that point. The work has to be completed by then, and locally body shops are booked months out.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Just brought mine in today. They said it need to be evaluated by the body shop. Then they submit the estimate to FCA. Was told this type of issue is covered 5 years, unlimited milage. My 2020 first went into service in October 2019. I have until October 2024 to get it dealt with. Was advised not to wait until that point. The work has to be completed by then, and locally body shops are booked months out.

It's so bad here that if you want a Jeep collision center/body shop to even look at your Jeep, you have to make an appointment for someone to look at it, then if work is to be done, make another appointment for that. It can be a couple of weeks just to have something like a windshield or chipped paint looked at to go from there.

 

[@californiajeeping]

The hood on my 2022 diesel is bubbling along the lip.
Can’t get it fixed due to the hood vent I cut in. Whoops.

 

[RAM241]

7 out of 8 of my door hinges are bubbling now (just like my JK's). Anyone having issues getting it repaired through the warranty?

 

[IdahoRubicon]

I just found bubbling on pretty much all my door hinges. Need to look over the truck more closely to see if that is all. It was purchased new in Mar 2022 so Jeep still hasn't figured it out apparently. pretty disappointing.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

It was purchased new in Mar 2022 so Jeep, GM, Ford and others still hasn't figured it out apparently. pretty disappointing.

Fixed it for ya.

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